The Business Magazine Thames Valley October 2015

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law and the legal 500

Pitmans: ‘Exceptionally good on acquisitions’

In the Thames Valley Pitmans LLP’s core focuses include banking and finance, insolvency, and disputes in the technology sector.

Corporate and commercial

Pitmans’ ‘knowledgeable, well- connected and prompt’ team acted for Cohort and its subsidiary SEA on its purchase of J+S, and advised The East India Company on investments made by Lulu Group. Group head Andrew Peddie is ‘exceptionally good on acquisition projects’, and private equity, venture capital and M&A specialist Roger Gregory is the other key figure. Notable clients include Ridgeway Group, CACI and Lab 21.

In Hampshire, Pitmans’ legacy Lamport Bassitt team is led by the highly-regarded Sean Kelly, who has a longstanding local reputation. In a typically prolific year, Kelly advised The Impact Group on its £7 million sale to Tower Transit, and Meercat Workboats on its £2m sale to Burgess Marine.

Commercial litigation

Pitmans’ wide-ranging practice handled a number of commercial contract and shareholder disputes, and has expertise in the real estate, IT and insolvency sectors. IT-focused Tim Clark ‘combines technical skills with practicality’, and Suzanne Brooker specialises in contentious insolvency matters. Practice head Sue O’Brien advised Prodded Networks on an unpaid invoices claim against GDF Suez, and acted for One Step (Support) in a restrictive covenant claim.

In Hampshire, highlights included

Grant Thornton UK. Practice head Suzanne Brooker is ‘a joy to work with’ and her legal knowledge is ‘second to none’. Her team is recommended for its ‘large and varied industry experience’.

Employment

Pitmans has ‘a strong knowledge of key employment issues’, and practice co-heads Mark Symons, Richard Devall and Angela Shields ‘take a pragmatic approach, identify risks and deliver appropriate advice’. The team handled the employment aspects of Annodata’s acquisition of Keltec.

In Hampshire, the ‘excellent on all levels’ team is led by Jonathan Gray.

Andrew Peddie

representing a company in its high- value breach of duty claim against former senior employees and for rectification of the share register. Rick Munro led this matter, and heads the team.

Debt recovery

Pitmans houses a ‘very efficient and effective’ team. Suzanne Brooker and Donna Goddard are the names to note.

Banking and finance

The firm ‘creates superb business relationships with its clients’. Team head Patrick Long ‘present solutions, not issues’; Stephanie Perry ‘can handle diverging matters within short deadlines’; and real estate finance specialist Sarah Potter is ‘professional and efficient’. The firm advised Metro Bank and Clydesdale Bank on the provision of substantial facilities.

Insolvency and corporate recovery

Clients include KPMG, Deloitte and Immigration

Richard Devall is the key figure, was highly active in business immigration from Egypt, as well as assisting the UK subsidiaries of Chinese and Russian-owned companies on the transfer of business-vital employees.

Pensions

David Hosford advises on all aspects of non-contentious pensions law including s.75 debt matters, scheme mergers and compliance. Symon Rowley focuses on pension scheme documentation.

Personal injury: claimant

‘A very safe pair of hands’, LB Claims is now part of Pitmans, following the firms’ merger in 2014. Gareth Wheeler leads the team, which includes Lynn Yeates (‘great with clients’) and Peter Hilditch (‘really knows his stuff’).

Personal injury: defendant

The ‘excellent’ team has ‘thorough understanding of clients’ business

Gardner Leader: ‘Highly professional with pragmatic approach’

Corporate and commercial

Gardner Leader LLP’s commercial practice was bolstered by the arrival of Richard Buckeridge in the Maidenhead office, following the merger with Heath Buckeridge in October 2014. The team is ‘highly professional with a pragmatic approach’, and head Greg Humphreys and associate Emma

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Ladd attract praise for their ‘excellent business acumen, timeliness and attention to detail’. Derek Rodgers is the other key contact.

Commercial litigation

The firm provides ‘an excellent quality of advice and knowledge’, and team head Chris Felton ‘always remains calm and delivers on time’. Michelle

Di Gioia ‘has an amazing ability to read the opponent, and is an exceptional negotiator’. Key clients include Swenson, ASES, and the former employees of Caterham F1.

Contentious trusts and probate

Team head Alastair Goggins’ ‘intelligent, calm approach make

requirements, and keeps them fully informed of developments’. Ferhat Choudri and Alan Davies are ‘approachable’ lawyers.

Commercial property

Pitmans covers the full range of commercial property matters, with particular strength in residential development, acting for clients including Millgate and Abingworth Developments, Cala Management and Ashill Land. Andrew Davies heads the practice, and Delphine Mehouas is the other key contact.

In Hampshire, Pitmans’ team is led by the ‘concise and knowledgeable’ John Newton, with Nick Todd, who has impressive experience in major development projects, the other key contact.

Construction

The experienced David Gwillim, who has niche marine engineering expertise, has developed a robust construction capability since arriving from Speechly Bircham in 2013. Clients include Oxford Homes and Nordic Construction.

Planning

Pitmans successfully defended judicial review proceedings against client Bewley Homes to block planning permission for a major mixed-use development in Surrey. The recommended Christina Daniels led that matter, and heads the team.

IT and telecoms

Tim Clark acted for XMA in a £1m claim related to a sub- contract termination, and advised Westcoast Group on various IT-related matters. Phil Smith handles software and licensing disputes, and Sarah Lake has strong expertise in commercial contracts.

him an exceptional solicitor’. Associate Tara McInnes is ‘highly expert in the field, with first-class ability to deal with complex details’.

Family

Seona Myerscough heads the team, which also includes Jenny Buchanan and Collette Bailey.

Commercial property

Greg Humphreys provides ‘excellent local knowledge’. Jolyon Barton and Richard Buckeridge are also key contacts.

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – OCTOBER 2015

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